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44 farms and examined 1,067 cows up to the time the altered arrangements referred
to above came into force. During the year it was found that 58 cows showed signs
of tuberculosis or were otherwise unhealthy; one cow supposed to have been
tuberculous had been slaughtered prior to the inspector's visit and the farmer
undertook to have the animal removed. In addition, the inspector re-visited 367
farms, and inspected 6,689 cows up to September, 1926; all the animals examined
at these revisits were found to be in a satisfactory condition with the exception of 26
which were unsatisfactory upon other grounds than suspicion that they were suffering
from tuberculosis. In each instance the owner undertook to have the animal removed.
An intimation was received from a cowkeeper of a case of suspected tuberculosis
in one of his cows. The animal died before inspection, but a post mortem disclosed
no traces of tuberculosis.
During 1926, 341 inspections were made of the cows in London cowsheds,
and the total number of examinations made was 6,196. No case of generalised
tuberculosis was detected, but in 81 cases other unhealthy conditions were found.
Midwives.
The powers and duties of the Council in relation to midwives are contained in
the Midwives and Maternity Homes Acts, 1902 to 1926. The last Act came into
force on 4th August, 1926.
Under the Midwives Act, 1902, the duties of the Council, as the local supervising
authority for London, were chiefly disciplinary in connection with the conduct,
professional or otherwise, of midwives or persons practising as midwives in London.
The Council was also required to suspend from practice any midwife, if such suspension
appeared to be necessary in order to prevent the spread of infection. The Midwives
Act, 1918; passed to amend the Act of 1902, enlarged the Council's responsibilities,
the chief alteration dealing with the provision of medical assistance for midwives.
By section 14, midwives are required to summon medical aid in an emergency as
defined by the rules of the Central Midwives Board. The fees of the medical man so
called in are payable by the Council (in accordance with a scale fixed by the Local
Government Board and amended by the Ministry of Health) which has power to
recover them from the patient, her husband, or other person, liable to maintain her,
unless it can be shown that such person is unable to pay the fees. This Act also
empowered the Council to pay, if it thought fit, to any midwife suspended by it from
practice to prevent the spread of infection, such reasonable compensation for loss
of practice as in the circumstances might seem just. It also gave power to the Council
to aid the training of midwives and to make grants for the purpose.
The Act of 1926 amends the provisions of the Act of 1902 with regard to the
practice of midwifery by uncertified persons, either male or female. It also repeals
the discretionary powers conferred upon local supervising authorities in respect of
compensation for loss of practice to any midwife suspended from practice to prevent
the spread of infection, and entitles her to recover such amount as is reasonable
in the circumstances of the case unless she herself had been in default. The Act
confers upon local supervising authorities power, subject to the sanction of the
Minister of Health, to make arrangements with pregnant women in their respective
areas for the payment of agreed sums, in instalments or otherwise, to cover liability
in respect of the fees of medical practitioners called in under the provisions of section
14 of the Act of 1918.
Notifications by midwives of intention to practise during the year 1926 numbered
835; of intention to practice for specific periods less than a year, 20; and of having
acted in specific cases, 13.
During the year the Council reported to the Central Midwives Board that three
prima facie cases of malpractice, negligence or misconduct on the part of certified
midwives had been established. In all cases the Board found the charges to be
proved. In one case the Board cautioned the midwife as to her future conduct,
and in another, sentence was postponed with a view to further consideration on